Greatness Is What We're On the Brink Of

"I wish that I could have this moment for life. 'Cause in this moment I just feel so alive..."



My fave PGs, The Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Jan. 10-16, continuing a season in which point guard play has arguably reached new heights.

Rose propelled the Bulls to three wins for the week by averaging 27.3 points, tied for fifth in the Eastern Conference, 6.8 assists and 5.3 rebounds. In Saturday’s win over Miami, Rose scored 34 points while dishing out eight assists. He went 28-for-29 (.966) from the free throw line for the week. Not to mention he scored his first triple-double on Tuesday against the Bobcats.

Westbrook averaged 27.5 points, a league-best 13.0 assists and 9.0 rebounds to help the Thunder go 2-0. He recorded his second triple-double of the season on Jan. 13, in the win over Orlando. Oklahoma City has a 12-3 record when Westbrook hands out 10-plus assists.

Here is a recap of the week for Rose and Westbrook:

Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

Jan. 10 vs. Detroit: Tallied 29 points on 10-for- 20 shooting and seven assists in a 95-82 win over the Rockets.
Jan. 12 @ Charlotte: Recorded 17 points and seven assists in a 96-91 loss to the Bobcats.
Jan. 14 @ Indiana: Scored 29 points to go along with 10 rebounds and five assists in a 99-86 win over the Pacers.
Jan. 15 vs. Miami: Tallied 34 points, eight assists, four rebounds and three blocks in a 99-96 win over the Heat.

Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

Jan. 12 @ Houston: Scored 23 points to go along with 13 assists, eight rebounds and two steals in a 118-112 win over the Rockets.
Jan. 13 vs. Orlando: Notched 32 points, 13 assists, 10 rebounds and two blocks in a 125-124 victory over the Magic.

The 2 were teammates this summer and were very instrumental in helping Team USA bring home the gold from the FIBA World Championship.

For even more in-depth analysis on The Year of the Point Guard, check out this article at SB*Nation.

Fly Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise
to flyyyyyyyyyyyyy
to flyyyyyyyyyyyyy

I wish today it will rain all day
Maybe that will kinda make the pain go away
Trying to forgive you for abandoning me
Praying but I think I’m still an angel away
Angel away, yeah strange in a way
Maybe that is why I chase strangers away
They got their guns out aiming at me
But I become near when they aiming at me
Me, me, me against them
Me against enemies, me against friends
Somehow they both seem to become one
A sea full of sharks and they all smell blood
They start coming and I start rising
Must be surprising, but I am a winner
So I just keep fighting

I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise
to flyyyyyyyyyyyyy
to flyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Everybody wanna try to box me in
Suffocating every time it locks me in
Paint they own pictures than they crop me in
But I will remain where the top begins
Cause I am not a word, I am not a line
I am not a girl that can every be defined
I am not fly, I am levitation
I represent an entire generation
I hear the criticism loud and clear
That is how I know that the time is near
So we become alive in a time of fear
And I ain't got no muthafuckin time to spare
Cry my eyes out for days upon days
Such a heavy burden placed upon me
But when you go hard your nays become yays
Thanks to Almighty so I give Him all the praise

I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise
to flyyyyyyyyyyyyy
to flyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Get ready for it
Get ready for it
Get ready for it
I came to win
Get ready for it
Get ready for it
I came to win

I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise
to flyyyyyyyyyyyyy
to flyyyyyyyyyyyyy

His Eye Is On The Sparrow

Why should I feel discouraged
Why should the shadows come
Why should my heart fell lonely
And long for heaven and home

When Jesus is my portion
A constant friend is he
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches over me
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches me

I sing because I'm happy
I sing because I'm free
His eye is on the sparrow

And I know he watches
He watches me
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches
I know he watches
I know he watches me

I sing because I'm happy
I sing because I'm free
His eye is on the sparrow

And I know he watches me
He watches me
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches me
He watches me
He watches me, I never thought...
He watches me

- Lauryn Hill & Tanya Blount

A Day to Remember... MLK

Here's a video of Common's A Dream song from the Freedom Writers' soundtrack.

All I'm saying is simply this, that all life is interrelated, that somehow we're caught in an inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. For some strange reason, I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. You can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality.

— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

Captured!

Here are some pics of Kelly Rowland looking gorgeous in a new photoshoot with Atlanta photographer Rob Ector.
FLAWLESS!

Boston's Got Wings

Although the Bulls trumped Boston the other night, Rondo came up with 5 steals, which put him at 62 for the season. That means another 30-steal milestone in the Boston’s Got Wings Program, where Red Bull has pledged to donate $500 to the city of Boston’s Department of Parks and Recreation for each one of Rondo’s steals this season (every dollar will be used to refurbish basketball courts throughout the city), that's $15,000 per chosen park. After Rajon recorded his first 30 steals this season, money was officially allocated for Malcolm X Playground in the Roxbury area of the city. After that, Red Bull opened up public voting to decide the next court to receive funding. Smith Playground in the Allston/Brighton area was the winner with the most votes at the 60-steal mark. Go to the site to vote for the next court to get refurbished once Rajon has 90 steals for the season HERE

Tell Him

Let me be patient, let me be kind
Make me unselfish without being blind
Though I may suffer, I'll envy it not
And endure what comes
Cause He's all that I got and
tell Him...

Tell Him I need Him
Tell Him I love Him
And it'll be alright
Tell Him be alright be alright
Tell Him tell Him I need Him
Tell Him I love Him
It'll be alright

Now I may have faith to make mountains fall
But if I lack love then I am nothin' at all
I can give away everything I possess
But left without love then I have no happiness
I know I'm imperfect (I know I'm imperfect)
And not without sin (and not without sin)
But now that I'm older all childish things end
and tell Him...

Tell Him I need Him
Tell Him I love Him
And it'll be alright
Tell Him be alright be alright
Tell Him tell Him I need Him
Tell Him I love Him
It'll be alright

I'll never be jealous
And I won't be too kind
Cause love is not boastful
Oooh and love is not loud
Tell Him I need Him
Tell Him I love Him
Everything's gonna be alright
Oooh yeah

Now I may have wisdom and knowledge on Earth
But if I speak wrong then what is it worth?
See what we now know is nothing compared
to the love that was shown when our lives were spared
and tell Him...

Tell Him I need Him
Tell Him I love Him
And it'll be alright
Tell Him be alright be alright
Tell Him tell him I need Him
Tell Him I love Him
It'll be alright

- Lauryn Hill

Pure Imagination

Hold your breath
Make a wish
Count to three

Come with me and you'll be
In a world of pure imagination
Take a look and you'll see
Into your imagination

We'll begin
With a spin
Traveling in the world of my creation
What we'll see
Will defy
Explanation

If you want to view paradise
Simply look around and view it
Anything you want to, do it
Wanna change the world?
There's nothing to it

There is no life I know
To compare with pure imagination
Living there you'll be free
If you truly wish to be

If you want to view paradise
Simply look around and view it
Anything you want to, do it
Wanna change the world?
There's nothing to it

There is no life I know
To compare with pure imagination
Living there you'll be free
If you truly wish to be

- Willy Wonka

Somebody to Love

When I'm alone in my room sometimes I stare at the wall
And in the back of my mind I hear my conscience call
Telling me I need a guy who's as sweet as a dove
For the first time in my life, I see I need love
There I was giggling about the games
That I had played with many hearts, and I'm not saying no names
Then the thought occured, tear drops made my eyes burn
As I said to myself look what you've done to her
I can feel it inside, I can't explain how it feels
All I know is that I'll never diss another fair appeal
Although I often reminisce I can't believe that I found
A desire for true love floating around
Inside my soul because my soul is cold
One half of me deserves to be this way til I'm old
But the other half needs affection and joy
And the warmth that is created by a girl and a boy
I need love
I need love

Romance sheer delight how sweet
I gotta find me a guy to make my life complete
You can rub my back, we'll get cozy and cuddle
Or we can lie in each other’s arms and just snuggle
Give me a rose, pull out my chair before we eat
kiss you on the cheek and say ooh boy you're so sweet
It's déjà vu whenever I'm with you
I could go on forever telling you what I’ll do
But where you at you're neither here nor there
I swear I can't find you anywhere
Damn sure you ain't in my closet or under my rug
This love search is really making me bug
And if you know who you are why don't you make yourself seen
Take the chance with my love and you'll find out what I mean
Fantasies can run but they can't hide
And when I find you I'ma pour all my love inside
I need love
I need love

I wanna kiss you, hold you, never scold you, just love you
Kiss on your neck, caress you and rub you
Our love’s strong, we could never be alone
If you're not standing next to me you're on the phone
Can't you hear it in my voice, I need love bad
I've got money but love's something I've never had
I need your soft full lips, strong face and jaws
I’ll love you more than a man who's 10 feet tall
I'd watch the sunrise in your eyes
We're so in love when we hug we become paralyzed
Our bodies explode in ecstasy unreal
I’m as soft as a pillow and you’re as hard as steel
It's like a dream land, I can't lie I never been there
Maybe this is an experience that me and you can share
Clean and unsoiled yet sweaty and wet
I swear to you this is something that I'll never forget
I need love
I need love

Friendship, trust, honor, respect, admiration
This whole experience could be such a revelation
Teach me real love and how to be a woman
To always be considerate and do all I can
Be with you forever cause your love means so much
My body tingles all over from the slightest touch
Of your hand and understand I'll be frozen in time
Til we meet face to face and you tell me you're mine
If I find you boy I swear you’ll never forget
Every time you see me will be like the first time we met
I can't sit and wait for my prince to arrive
I gotta struggle and fight to keep my dream alive
I'll search the whole world for that special dude
When I finally find you watch our love ensue
I need love
I need love
I'm a lady (Got my mind made up)
I need love
I need love
I'm a lady

When I be sittin in my room all alone, staring at the wall
Fantasies, they go through my mind
And I've come to realize that I need true love
And if you wanna give it to me sir make yourself seen
I'll be waiting...
I love you

Love Yourself by Angela Simmons

Angela Simmons posted this piece yesterday on her Global Grind blog and I have to say, LOVE IT! It is really inspiring and very truthful.


Hello GlobalGrinders!

It has been quite a while since I've last talked with you guys. I have a subject that's near and dear to my heart that I want to talk to you guys about. Over the last couple years of my life, I've really been learning how to love myself. This is something that I've seen a lot of people struggle with. And that's because i feel we don't give ourselves enough time to be with ourselves. In other words, make sure that you're doing things that you really want to do with your life.

I can't stress the importance of getting to know yourself on a daily basis. Make sure that you are really making yourself happy. What is most important is identifying with what it is that makes you happy. Over the last couple of years of my life I've learned there were a couple of times where I was doing what everyone else wanted me to do, but without even noticing that. Sometimes we get so caught up in doing what makes others happy that we forget the simple things that make us happy. I just wanted to share this because I want to make sure you don't waste your life doing and meeting everyone's needs but your own.

The key to making yourself happy is making sure you're in a career field you want to be in. That's number one. Because at the end of the day, who wants an unhappy doctor working on them if you know what I mean? It's about doing your job for free. Only because you love it that much. Number 2 is making sure you have time to yourself at some point in your day. Sitting down and meditating. You have to slow your day down, our minds think so quickly and so much.

Overall I'm here to say, take care of yourself. Life is so short. I wouldn't want anyone to miss their calling. Laugh a lot, and love even more. Once it's all over, at least you can say you lived your life!

Love,

-Angela Simmons

Check out Angie's blog: http://globalgrind.com/channel/culture/content/1899152/love-yourself-by-angela-simmons

Top Tweet

@RMBWilliams: 2011 New Year's Resolution! Build on my Relationship with God! With his Guidance & Strength! In all aspects of my Life!
http://twitter.com/#!/RMBWilliams/status/21241349793644544

With Open Eyes

Passion and anger
Collide and multiply
And rise
As I try to hide
These feelings
That I keep suppressed deep inside
Then I begin to wonder why
Why must I have so much pride
When they begin to come untied?
I scream for sacrifice
Push and pull
Now I must unleash these butterflies
And expel the passion that underlies
These insecure thoughts
That cloud my mind
And leave me lying awake at night
Feels like I've been stuck
Inside a beehive
These stings are so vile
But I won't lay down and die
I have faith in the Almighty God
And with His love I shall be alive
For I see clearly
What He has done for me
So I give Him thanks and praise
And accept these trials
With open eyes

~ Pamela Monique

2010 Wrap Up

Follow the link to listen to and download the song: Xclusives Zone: Skillz - 2010 Rap Up
You can also cop this on iTunes.

Ready for Love

I am ready for love
Why are you hiding from me
I'd quickly give my freedom
To be held in your captivity

I am ready for love
All of the joy and the pain
And all the time that it takes
Just to stay in your good grace
Lately I've been thinking
Maybe you're not ready for me
Maybe you think I need to learn maturity
They say watch what you ask for
Cause you might receive
But if you ask me tomorrow
I'll say the same thing

I am ready for love
Would you please lend me your ear?
I promise I won't complain
I just need you to acknowledge I am here

If you give me half a chance
I'll prove this to you
I will be patient, kind, faithful and true
To a man who loves music
A man who loves art
Respect's the spirit world
And thinks with his heart

I am ready for love
If you'll take me in your hands
I will learn what you teach
And do the best that I can

I am ready for love
Here with an offering of
My voice
My Eyes
My soul
My mind

Tell me what is enough
To prove I am ready for love

I am ready

~ India.Arie

A New Year

This is my theme song for 2011!

I'm dedicating this one to all the dreamers out there. xoxo